Violence Victims Left with Nowhere to Go

BY DANEIE GEDDES

Restricted government funding has left over 100 Newcastle and Lake Macquarie domestic violence victims without safe and secure housing.

Domestic violence services are at maximum capacity, while women and children continue to struggle to find safe accommodation. 

Over the past four weeks, 77 women and 31 children were unable to be accommodated by crisis refuges. 

Ongoing pressure to meet the demand for crisis accommodation is growing, as the number of case referrals increase. 

Newcastle Women's Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Service Manager Suellyn Moore, said domestic violence services and victims are pleading for support from the NSW government. 

"Unless there are real time results, we're going to see more people stay in DV relationships," she said.  

There's concerns, without sufficient funding for safe and secure housing, the number of women and children left struggling to find safe accommodation will continue to rise across the region and the state. 

 

Mixed Reactions to Newcastle's Scrapped Lock-Out Laws

BY OLIVIA DILLON

There's been mixed reactions to the decision to remove Newcastle's lock-out laws after 15 years. 

The Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority (ILGA) has announced, they will put an end to the existing controls, and allow venues to apply to extend their liquor trading licenses on a case-by-case basis. 

It comes after a trial was conducted, removing 1:00am and 1:30am lock-outs at some venues, and allowing them to serve shots and cocktails until late. 

The trial found an increase in the overall number of alcohol-related assaults and incidents of affray, however, they were localised to a few of the region's largest venues. 

In response to the decision, Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp said he welcomes the change, and you can't punish all local venues for the ones doing the wrong thing. 

However, community campaigner Dr Tony Brown, says the decision isn't about patron safety. 

"Unfortunately, what the government and ILGA have done, is preferred the uninformed assertions from the alcohol lobby to override the police, health and community's evidence. That's diabolical in terms of where our city is going," Dr Brown said.  

"What this tells us, is that this political decision-making process, which is highly confidential and non-transparent, has effectively been captured by the powerful alcohol lobby." 

Dr Brown also said the ILGA board should consult with health and emergency service workers during the decision-making process. 

"The simple, evidence-based answer is: if you reduce, by modest amounts, the availability and supply of alcohol, which includes trading hours, the international and local evidence says, it's one of the most effective measures to reduce harms." 

University of Newcastle Survivors Take a Stand Against Violence

BY OLIVIA DILLON

A University of Newcastle student has founded the institution's first survivor-run advisory advocates group. 

21 year-old Sarah Williams is a child sexual abuse and adult sexual assault survivor, third-year law and communications student, and an advocate for survivors across the region and country. 

She previously founded What Were You Wearing, an education, awareness and advocacy organisation run by sexual violence survivors. 

Ms Williams said the Survivors Advocates Advisory Board will provide a diverse insight into the lived experience of the survivor. 

"I only want the group to go ahead if it has First Nations people on it, people living with disabilities, and LGBTQI+ identifying people, because as we know from statistics, those three groups are disproportionally affected by sexual violence, and particularly sexual violence on campus," Ms Williams said. 

The group of 10 student survivors will meet once a month to discuss how to support victims and combat violence on campus. 

They will be joined by a trauma-informed psychologist at meetings to provide support on potentially triggering issues, and are assured the group will be a safe and confidential space. 

The establishment of the group comes after the latest National Student Safety Survey revealed almost one in five UON students had been sexually harassed since starting their studies. 

It also aligns with the Federal Government's announcement today, it will launch the National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children. 

The 10-year plan is underpinned by six principles, one of which involves working with victim-survivors to develop policies and solutions.

Ms Williams said she's excited to see higher-ups working with survivors to find solutions, and she already has suggestions for the University to implement. 

"Being able to have that voice is really powerful. You feel like you're able to assist in making change. It also makes you believe that the government actually does want to make change and they don't want to continue to see the statistics that we continue seeing, which is really great," she said. 

"I'd love to see more consent education brought out in the University to regular students, rather than just student residents. Currently you do a consent module, but that's just once when you do your degree and it's nothing at all; it's very outdated in our opinion." 

Applications to become one of the 10 survivor advocates are open to anyone who will be studying at the University in 2023 (including current Year 12 students) and will close on the 24th of October. 

More information can be found on the What Were You Wearing website. 

The University of Newcastle has established its first Survivors Advocates Advisory Board for sexual violence survivors. 

Sydney-Based Police Strike Force Bound For Newcastle

BY ARIANA GATTI

A new team, of some 23-strong was announced today to hit the ground running within the Hunter region over the coming weeks.

The Strike Force originally based in Sydney, called 'Strike Force Raptor', are setting up specialised units permanentently within the Newcastle Police precinct in order to combat and dismantle locally-organised crime within the area.

The State Crime Command's Criminal Groups Squad officially launched the new squad initiative yesterday, which now has its own name as an extension of the original force, now referred to as 'Raptor North'.

The force, which has the potential to operate across Lake Macquarie and the Central Coast, will consist of intelligence and analytical investigators, highway patrol and operations support group (OSG) operatives, to meet any specialised activity.

This, however, is not the first taste of crime relief in the Northern NSW area as Raptor North operations have been up and running since the 1st of April.

Since then, arson attacks and broader criminal activity has significantly decreased.

With the rollout of the new strike force, criminal justice systems around the Hunter now have the ability to tap into the National anti-gang squad members, including the taxation department, Austrac and other Commonwealth partners in the pursuit of dismantling gangs and criminal groups.

Northern Regional Commander of Police, Max Mitchell, says the Strike Force introduction is essential in exacting change within Hunter communities.

"Over recent months we have seen a dramatic reduction in serious crime occurring, particularly and thankfully of public place shootings", he says.

"Whilst we have that fire power available, I think this will be a positive step for our communities".

Image sourced: 2NURFM Reporter - Ariana Gatti - Newcastle Police Precinct.